Creighton’s soccer teams are a combined 22-4-2 this season, including a combined 7-0-0 record in Missouri Valley Conference matches. The men’s team is ranked among the top ten nationally, while the women’s team can clinch the Valley regular season title this weekend at Missouri State.
Earlier in the fall, women’s head coach Bruce Erickson told WBR that he didn’t think any team would go undefeated in conference play, and that the MVC would be tough from top to bottom. His team has a chance to prove his prognostication wrong, though, with two regular season games left before the State Farm MVC Tournament begins on campus sites on Halloween.
Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Jamie Clark’s Bluejays just travelled to Iowa and beat Drake 2-1, snapping a winless streak against the Bulldogs in Des Moines that dated back to 2004. The win marked the 21st time in a row that the Bluejays have won or tied a road match; CU hasn’t lost a true away match in the regular season since 2006. Clark’s team continues its schedule of games away from Morrison Stadium this weekend, when the head to Central Arkansas to play the Valley newcomers.
WBR caught up with both coaches before their teams’ big weekends.
Alicia Montgomery and the rest of Bruce Erickson's Bluejays are atop the Valley standings
White & Blue Review: How is the health of the team?
Bruce Erickson: Knock on wood, but we have been very fortunate in the fact that we have had a very health team this year. Lately, we have been able to train with the whole squad, and I think that is a major reason whey we are in the position we are in.
WBR: You travel to Missouri State with a chance to lock up the regular season championship. Can you tell us a bit about that matchup?
BE: Well, we as a team are very excited for the opportunity to win the regular season championship. Missouri State will be a tough opponent, and we will actually be playing in their larger stadium; I think we have only played there one other time. The turf is similar to ours, so that will help. They are a tough team that traditionally plays a 4-4-2, and they are pretty tough to score on.
WBR: You will play the final regular season game at Morrison next Thursday. How do you see the matchup with Illinois State?
BE: Well, they were picked to win the Valley this year and they are a very talented group. They seem to be another team that has gotten everyone’s best effort this season, and I think we will get theirs.
WBR: Your team’s won 10 matches in a row. Do you feel that winning out and making it to the finals of the MVC Tournament would be enough to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament?
BE: I am actually on the ranking committee and was in a meeting this week. Our team has entered the rankings for our region, but it would be difficult still to get an auto bid. With the talent the Big Ten has, it is tough for us to get high enough in our region to be in the discussion. I think we simply need to win out, and seal our own fate with regular season and tournament championships.
Tyler Polak and the rest of Jamie Clark's Bluejays also lead the Valley
White & Blue Review: How is the health of the team right now?
Jaime Clark: We are good. It will be nice to finish up this road trip, and it will be especially nice to have Choco [Jose Gomez] back for the game this weekend.
WBR: Can you give us a scouting report on Central Arkansas?
JC: To be honest, we really don’t know much about them. We will need to take care of business on Saturday, however, because we will want to carry over some good confidence going into our final stretch.
WBR: With a number of conference games under your belt, has there been anything that has surprised you about the competition, either the physicality of play or level of play.
JC: The Valley is a good conference, and being Creighton, you always get the best effort out of everyone. Some games have been more physical than others, but we simply need to play our game and keep our composure.